ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A bear was found dead earlier this month in Apopka after having suffered an apparent gunshot wound, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
In an incident report released on Tuesday, FWC officials said they received a call about an injured bear near Foxden Road on June 6.
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Investigators said they arrived at the scene around 11 p.m., finding the bear’s body but without any immediately obvious cause of death.
The homeowner who called the FWC told them he had been walking his dog earlier in the night, which is when he came across what he thought was a sleeping bear, the report shows. As a result, he called 911 and was directed to the FWC.
After performing a necropsy on the bear, investigators discovered that a bullet appeared to have passed through its lung, though no bullet was located at the scene, according to the report.
The FWC said that investigators interviewed several neighbors nearby, though none reported hearing any gunshots around the time the bear was found.
“Each stated that the storm that occurred at the time was the only noise they heard,” the report reads.
Due to the lack of leads, the investigation was later declared “concluded.”
As of the time the bear’s body was found, state law prohibits shooting and killing a Florida black bear without FWC authorization.
A new state bill (HB 87) would allow for state residents to shoot bears in self-defense. The bill was presented to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 7, and if he signs it into law, it will take effect on July 1.
However, no details were released about whether self-defense was used in this case.
No additional information has been provided.
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